How to Get the Elasticity Back in Your Belly

To get the elasticity back in your belly, you are going to have to stretch your abdominal muscles. There are three poses in yoga that are excellent for stretching out the abdominals: bridge, bow and camel. Along with stretching your belly, bridge pose will also stretch your chest, alleviate stress and improve your digestion. Bow pose will strengthen your back muscles as well as improve your posture, and camel will stretch out your hip flexors. Practice these three poses regularly, at least two to three times per week, and get the elasticity back in your belly.

Things You'll Need
Yoga mat

Bridge Pose
Lie on your back on your mat. Bend your knees and bring the soles of your feet onto the mat. Keep your knees hip-width apart.

Inhale and push into your feet, engage your quadriceps and lift your hips toward the ceiling. Open your chest by lifting your sternum to your chin. Lengthen the back of your neck.

For a deeper stretch, clasp your fingers under your back, roll your shoulders out and down, press your arms into the floor and drive your hips up further. Hold the pose for six long and deep breaths. To come down, exhale and slowly lower yourself to the mat one vertebra at a time.

Bow Pose
Lie on your belly with your face on the mat. Bend your knees and reach back for your ankles. Grab the outside of your ankles, flex your ankles and push your feet into your hands.

Bow pose is a deeper belly stretch than bridge pose.
Keep your thighs glued to the floor as you extend your legs. As you straighten your arms, your chest will lift and open, stretching your belly.

Hold the pose for six long and deep breaths. To come out of the pose, release your ankles and with control lower yourself to the mat.

Camel Pose
Stand on your knees. Place your hands on your sacrum, where your low back and butt meet, with your fingers pointing toward the floor and your thumbs pointing out and away from each other.

Gently push the low back down toward the floor as you lift your chest and look up. Push your hips forward as you lift your chest up and back.

If you can, reach your right arm back and grab the inside of your right ankle with your fingers inside and your thumb on the outside. Hold the pose for six long and deep breaths. Inhale and engage your abdominals to come back up.